How the Workflow App Became iOS 12 Shortcuts

The iOS 12 Shortcuts app is the direct evolution and native rebranding of Workflow, a popular third-party automation tool for iOS. Following Apple’s acquisition of Workflow in 2017, the core technology, interface, and development team were absorbed into Apple to create Shortcuts. Released alongside iOS 12 in 2018, Shortcuts replaced the standalone Workflow app entirely, turning a niche utility into a deeply integrated, system-level automation platform powered by Siri.

The Acquisition of Workflow

Workflow was originally created in 2014 by DeskConnect, a development team led by Ari Weinstein and Conrad Kramer. The app allowed users to link complex chains of actions across various apps and services using a simple drag-and-drop interface. It won an Apple Design Award in 2015 for its outstanding use of iOS accessibility features like VoiceOver.

In March 2017, Apple officially acquired the Workflow app and its development team. Unlike many corporate acquisitions where the product is immediately shut down, Apple kept Workflow functional and free on the App Store while the team worked internally on integrating the tool directly into the iOS ecosystem.

The Transition in iOS 12

At Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2018, Apple introduced the Shortcuts app as a flagship feature of iOS 12. When iOS 12 publicly launched in September 2018, the Workflow app received an update in the App Store that rebranded and replaced it with Shortcuts.

For existing users, the transition was virtually seamless. Any automated routines previously created inside Workflow—then referred to simply as "workflows"—were automatically migrated and converted into "shortcuts." The visual programming interface remained largely identical, maintaining the block-based action list that made Workflow successful.

Key Upgrades from Workflow to Shortcuts

While Shortcuts preserved Workflow's visual logic and structure, native integration granted it capabilities a third-party app could never have:

  • Siri Integration: Users could assign custom Siri voice phrases to any shortcut, allowing hands-free execution across iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and HomePod.
  • System-Level Privileges: As a first-party Apple app, Shortcuts bypassed standard third-party sandboxing restrictions, gaining direct control over system settings such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Low Power Mode, and Do Not Disturb.
  • Siri Suggestions: iOS 12 introduced predictive shortcut suggestions on the lock screen and in search, using on-device machine learning based on a user's daily habits.
  • Third-Party App APIs: Apple provided developers with the SiriKit Shortcuts API, allowing external apps to donate specific actions directly to the Shortcuts action library.

Ultimately, iOS 12 Shortcuts is Workflow rebuilt with first-party operating system privileges. The acquisition allowed Apple to bring advanced personal automation to mainstream users while establishing the foundation for modern automation across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.